The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration is designed to provide professional preparation for administrative or managerial positions in public service organizations. The degree program requires: 1) completion of a set of core courses common to all public administration students; 2) a concentration and 3) two additional courses for breadth. The Bachelor of Science in Public Administration Degree is a single-field major, which means that students are not required to complete a minor for graduation.
The Minor in Public Administration is designed to provide a basic foundation in public management. The minor is especially appropriate for students who major in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. It is an attractive option to students with majors in fields that lead to public sector employment, like recreation or health science.
In addition to full-time faculty, the department has part-time faculty who are practicing public managers in their areas of specialization. Several of the full-time faculty also have lengthy careers as public managers.
To complement the traditional classroom instruction, the Department of Public Administration and Public Policy offers a number of activities that enhance the total educational experience of students. The department sponsors speakers and professional symposia. The faculty also sponsors the Dominguez Public Administration Association (DPAA), a student club open to all public administration students, and Pi Alpha Alpha, a renowned national honor society for outstanding Public Administration students.

Graduate

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) program is designed to provide quality professional education for persons entering or working in public service professions. The MPA program prepares students for careers as professional managers of public sector or nonprofit organizations, as well as for research, consulting, and teaching careers. The MPA curriculum provides a theoretical foundation for the practice of public management.
After meeting prerequisite requirements, students can finish all other program requirements in two and a half academic years if they complete two courses per semester and two summer courses (depending upon summer scheduled courses). The MPA program is accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration (NASPAA), the professional association responsible for evaluating the quality of MPA degree programs. NASPAA is located at 1029 Vermont Ave., N.W., Ste. 1100, Washington, DC 20005-3517.

MPA Criminal Justice Concentration

This program is designed to provide criminal justice agency professionals with coursework in policy-making, administration, and the managerial operations of the criminal justice system. The curriculum offers students who may be new to the field the insight and background needed to begin successful public sector careers, while preparing experienced professionals to assume positions that demand additional responsibility.

MPA Criminal Justice Policy and Administration

This program is designed to provide criminal justice agency professionals with coursework in policy-making, administration, and the managerial operations of the criminal justice system. The curriculum offers students who may be new to the field the insight and background needed to begin successful public sector careers, while preparing experienced professionals to assume positions that demand additional responsibility.

MPA Health Care Policy and Administration Concentration

This program is designed to provide a quality graduate professional education for individuals entering or currently employed in health services agencies. It prepares graduates for careers in health services administration, planning, policy, evaluation, consulting, and related careers.

MPA Nonprofit Management Concentration

Nonprofit Management concentration was developed to meet the needs of the growing nonprofit arena. This concentration offers students a program that addresses the social, political, and economic landscape of the sector, its origin, size, composition, and its role in American Society and elsewhere. The coursework will review the size, scope, and dimensions of the U.S. nonprofit sector and examine theories of the sector and its conceptual underpinnings in some depth along with historical and religious foundations. This concentration also looks at such issues as why people organize, give financial support, and donate time. The concentration examines key aspects of the fundraising process for nonprofit organizations, major theoretical foundations, and general fundraising principles as well as a variety of marketing and fundraising techniques, sources of donations, and aspects of managing the fundraising process. The concentration combines applied and conceptual readings and provides students with opportunities to apply concepts and techniques through a series of service-learning portfolio assignments in collaboration with area nonprofit organizations.

MPA Public Management Concentration

The Public Management concentration is designed to provide the Master of Public Administration program with an emphasis in the structure, functioning, and skill competencies required for contemporary managers in the public and nonprofit sectors. This concentration offers our students a program that addresses the social, political, and economic landscape of the public sector, and its history and role in American Society. This concentration provides a broad examination of theoretical perspectives, the environmental context, and management functions that can be used to analyze organizations and to improve organizational effectiveness. The concentration combines applied and conceptual readings and provides students with opportunities to apply concepts and techniques to issues experienced in various workplace settings.

Academic and Professional Advisement

Undergraduate

Candidates for the Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree receive academic advisement for designing and completing their program of study. Specialized professional advisement can be obtained from the CBAPP Advisement Center. Undergraduate students seeking professional advisement should contact department faculty, who are available to discuss career options and current policy issues in professions within the areas of Public Administration and Public Policy.

Graduate

Candidates for the Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree receive academic advisement through the College's Graduate Business and Public Administration Advising Office. Students seeking academic advisement should contact the MPA Advising Office at (310) 243-3465, or mpaonline@csudh.edu. Specialized professional advisement can be obtained from members of the Public Administration faculty. Graduate students seeking professional advisement should contact department faculty, who are available to discuss career options and current policy issues in professions within the areas of Public Administration and Public Policy.

Preparation

Undergraduate

High school students should take college preparatory courses in the social and natural sciences, English and mathematics.

Students taking their first two years of study at a community college are advised to complete lower division general education requirements.

Graduate

While completing their undergraduate degrees, future MPA students should, if possible, complete a basic statistics course, a computer applications course, and three or more undergraduate public administration courses.

Career Possibilities

Undergraduate

The job opportunities for students in public administration are as diverse as the range of services provided by governments in the United States. Students may also be employed in fields such as law enforcement, human services, education and transportation.

In addition, the program provides employment preparation for: nonprofit organizations, utility companies, and some private firms and hospitals. The degree also provides a strong base for those pursuing a career in law.

Graduate

The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree provides students with the educational background and professional competencies needed to secure upper level administrative/managerial positions in a variety of public sector and nonprofit organizations, or in firms with close ties to governments, such as utilities or defense contractors.

The majority of MPA students at CSU, Dominguez Hills are already employed by public agencies when they begin their graduate education and use their Master's degrees for professional advancement within their organizations. Other students with little or no work experience, or those with no managerial experience, use the MPA degree to obtain entry-level administrative or management positions. Students also use the MPA degree as preparation for doctoral study, law school, and careers in teaching and research.

Graduation with Honors for Undergraduate Students

An undergraduate student may be a candidate for graduation with Honors in Public Administration by meeting the following criteria:

A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills;

A minimum grade point average of 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper division requirements in the major;